Thursday, April 20, 2017

The Great Salsa Snafu

In the 30 years I have cooked for a crew, I have never done anything like this.

I've debated whether I ought to even confess this or not. My entire 30 year cooking reputation has been wrecked...shattered...destroyed. Through the years I've heard tell that I am a good cook. I am not, I am a plain and simple, nothing fancy, but plenty of it, kind of cook.

The worst thing I've done is put cornstarch in the biscuits one morning instead of baking powder, but in my defense, it was 3:30 in the morning and I'd been up at that ungodly hour too many times in a row that week. And I did burn a cake recently because I was on the phone with a good friend.

But cowboys are unfailingly kind to the cook and often the crew is compromised of single fellas who are over the moon grateful for a home cooked meal, but I sure tested my boys on Tuesday.

I had made enchiladas, Spanish rice, beans, salad, and rolls for dinner, along with homemade salsa. By the time they rolled up in their rigs for dinner, I was feeling pretty puny and I rushed to set everything out. They filed in, thirsty and hungry, commenting on how good it smelled. After filling their plates, and settling in, I turned to put a few things away. I grabbed the salsa bowl and something caught my attention. It looked funny. Darker than I remember it being when I made it the day before. So I put on my glasses and well, it wasn't salsa! Any guesses? It was APPLESAUCE! LOL

I just about died laughing and I popped into the dining room and piped up, "O.K. Which one of ya'll scooped up some of this salsa?!" Oh, the looks I got were priceless! They looked absolutely sheepish and their eyes were filled with laughter that they were trying their best to disguise. I could barely get it out, "THAT was applesauce boys! I am SO sorry!" But it's hard to believe an apology is sincere when the one apologizing is doubled over in hoarse laughter. But I think they were relived at my reaction because they all burst out laughing as well. Oh my goodness! I was SO embarrassed, but it was SO funny!

Honestly, I was running a pretty good fever of 103°, my ears were plugged up so I couldn't hear very well, I couldn't smell or taste anything and apparently I really can no longer see without my glasses! Both my salsa and applesauce were in mason jars. I keep everything in mason jars.

Yes, in these pictures, it is entirely plain to see which is which, but honestly, that day, in that bowl, in my kitchen...well, it just wasn't. Even DH didn't say anything and he WOULD have, had he noticed.

And every one of those boys cleaned their plates and told me how wonderful it all was for which they received swats with my dishtowel for fibbing as they walked out the door.

When I shared this with our girl, she laughed too. She was with a friend who is a guy and he told her that fruit salsa is a 'thing' and that I was just being trendy. I could have used that information during my applesauce adventure.

And then, when we got back to branding on Friday, they asked for more salsa. I told them that they could all expect some in their Christmas stockings. When they were filling their plates yesterday, I said that I couldn't believe that 30 years of my cooking reputation had been tarnished by one little bowl of applesauce and one of those dear boys, who's been helping us for a long time, gave me the sweetest smile and said sincerely, "Not even a little".

I honestly felt SO badly, but they thought it was the best thing ever. See, why I love these fellas? Still, I wonder if I'll ever live it down.

15 comments:

Anonymous
said...

You are an AMAZING cook and I can't believe all you do to feed a CROWD. Don't feel badly about one glitch. My hubby likes hearing about quilt blogs while we have a meal but I NEVER tell him about yours. I have retired from having the cooking gene and he doesn't need to know about all your homemade goodness that you feed to a CROWD.I think when I retired that I RETIRED. I can cook but not thrilled about anything that takes hours and disappears in minutes........and then there's the CLEANUP!I copy the recipes you list also...handwriting practice you know.Bet that was good applesauce.

Teehehhehehee... oh Karin! How funny. Don't even fret it, it's not like you made pumpkin bread in a pie shell ;) or anything of that sort, you just grabbed the wrong jar. So no tarnish on that cooking medal... I hope you're feeling better.

Anonymous...you are much too kind, but thank you! I don't think I'll ever be able to retire from cooking since we don't eat if I don't cook! And as for the applesauce being good...well, the boys seemed to like it although I'm betting they would have liked it better had it not been served over their enchiladas! :0

This story will go down in your ranch folklore, and get funnier with each telling. : )Thanks for sharing your "red-face" moment. Made me smile this morning. And I think you must be an amazing cook--and ranch hand!!

A story for the ages...LOL... now you were definitely impaired by your illness and that should be ample justification for your error... and hey maybe applesauce is a good complement ... sweet with the spicy... you may have started a new trend!! hugs- carol

Now you know everyone need a chuckle or two a day. I'm betting everyone of those fellas cleaned their plates all while having a fun moment. Glad you shared with us too, a great way to start my day. (snicker snicker)

I bet they were delicious anyway! You did not feel well and I hope you went back to bed after that, I would have. Oh, it just keeps us humble doesn't it? Thank you and have a wonderful weekend. Take care and hope you feel better soon.

What a funny story and I am amazed that no one batted an eyelash. Mayve you have invented a new delicacy --enchiladas ala fruitanese or some other catchy phrase to describe a fruit toping that sounds very high class. Made my morning!

About Me

Living life at the end of the dirt road is a joy and the blessings are many. My husband and I have been married for 30 years and we have two great kids ~ our son is 26, serving our country as a Marine, and our daughter is 23, working on her Ruminant Nutrition graduate degree..So proud of both of them! The good Lord has blessed us with an amazing life! We ranch on 128,000 acres and there is never a dull moment. I am chief cook, bottle washer, gate opener, and retired homeschool Mama. I love the Lord, photography, gardening, quilting,tending to cattle & horses and helping DH in any capacity I can, as well as feeding everyone that wonders down the dirt road.
So welcome to life at the end of the dirt road ~ I hope you enjoy the visit!